It is believed that the IPFS protocol can become the basis of a new generation network. But even six years after the launch, the technology has not gained wide acceptance. Perhaps it needs to be given more time, or maybe slow development has already buried all prospects.
What is IPFS
IPFS is a p2p protocol that connects connected devices to a network with a common file system (InterPlanetary File System). It was introduced by engineer Juan Benet in 2015. Today, the development is handled by Protocol Labs and the open-source community.
The purpose of IPFS is to correct the shortcomings of the client-server model that underlies the modern Internet. The Juan Benet protocol implies that the data is independent of the origin servers and is stored separately. This model resembles torrents. The role of the address for accessing files, documents, and other information is played by a cryptographic hash ” attached ” to the contents of the object. However, the functionality of IPFS is not limited to file hosting, and distributed sites or applications are built on the basis of the protocol.
Several browsers work with IPFS – the first of the desktop applications was Brave, whose team took part in the development of the protocol. Now users can open links of the ipfs:// format by entering them into the address bar. Last year, IPFS support also appeared in Opera for Android. Along with browsers, various sites are implementing it – for example, Neocities web hosting for indie developers. Soon one of the largest Western cloud providers joined him.
Since IPFS is based on the idea of decentralization, blockchain projects have also been involved. In 2017, the authors of the protocol launched the Filecoin data storage platform. Its members earn by renting disk space.
Project support
It is believed that the average lifespan of a web page is one hundred days, and if backups are not made, society loses its “digital history”. Representatives of the non-profit organization Internet Archive, which collects copies of web pages, graphics and software, are convinced that IPFS will preserve the Internet’s heritage and make the World Wide Web more resilient.
There is also an opinion that IPFS will help reduce the load on the network of Internet providers in the face of an increase in the number of mobile devices and smart devices. The protocol can play the role of a CDN, and users will be able to download content from the provider’s internal network. Engineers at Oregon State University have calculated that p2p networks can free up ( p.1 ) up to 60% of bandwidth. And TechCrunch writes that IPFS will strengthen the architecture of the Internet before it collapses under its own load.
In general, a large number of people adhere to this idea, and a fairly strong community has formed around the technology – the IPFS repository on GitHub has almost 20 thousand stars. However, not all of its participants are optimistic; there are those among them who believe that the enthusiasm around IPFS is unnecessarily exaggerated.
Reason for criticism
In the IT community, one can come across the opinion that the protocol is developing too slowly. Six years after launch, its versions still start from scratch and rarely receive major updates. Given that the developers have focused their efforts on the development of their own blockchain platform, the situation may worsen. Working with the protocol also causes difficulties due to bugs. One Hacker News resident notes that he tried to use it for various projects. But each time he encountered slow downloads, and problems with IPNS (this is a specialized naming system). And an inability to associate domains with hashes.
At the same time, due to its decentralized nature, IPFS is not well suited for working with sensitive data. In fairness, it should be noted that projects are already being developed that allow building local storage based on IPFS – for example, Nebulus. However, its applicability is also called into question. A heated discussion has even unfolded around this open framework on Hacker News.
In what direction the protocol will develop further is difficult to say. Perhaps the developers will be able to solve a number of urgent technical problems, which will speed up its adaptation by major players. However, much will also depend on the point of view of regulators, who are suspicious of p2p technologies.